Mossberg 4x4?

F

Furseeker

New member
I often times read post asking which rifle to buy for a lower price and the suggestions are always the same, savage axis, Stevens etc. I know these are great guns, as I have owned all of them. I have yet to see a suggestion for a Mossberg 4x4. I decided to go out on a limb and buy a 25/06 and I have to say, this rifle feels, looks and shoots better than any other budget rifle I have used. First trip to the range produced sub moa groups with 3 different factory loads and a 1/2" group with 85 grain federals. I guess my question to Yall is what is your thought on the 4x4? Like I said, I got the 25/06 with walnut stock and paid 400. I will also say that the lightening bolt trigger is very smooth and breaks at a crisp 2.5#
 
THere is also the marlin XL7 that is overlooked for cheap rifles. Never shot one myself but I bet it shoots better then one would think. Marlins usualy are good shooters.
 
I can't prove it, but I have heard that Howa makes the mossberg and the marlin. I know they make the vanguard. With that said, the Howa is one of the most underrated rifles in Louisiana. Haven't shot one yet that wasn't worth the money.
 
Howas are awesome for what some consider a budgett rifle. I dont know about the 4x4 because i have no experience but my howa is definatley woth the money. I have one in .243. it shoots good has the adjustable trigger decent aftermarket for it. I think the deterrent of the 4x4 is the weight. some say it would make a good bench/PD gun but not something to carry. Ill have to look into it next time i go to the sporting goods store before i can come up with an opinion. Keep us posted on the results. would definatley like to hear more about it.
 
The lightening bolt trigger is the same as an accutrigger, adjustable from 2-3.5# the wood is beautiful. Comes with a muzzlebrake and is guaranteed moa out of the box. What's not to like? As for the weight, 7.25# and it feels lighter than that. Check em out. I think this is gonna become a popular gun topic on this site.
 
They are Howa Barrels and the action frame, but the bolt, trigger and other parts are out sourced. I have a .243 in a 100 ATR and it shoots AWESOME! I am really considering buy a Rifle Basix trigger for it. It shot this group in stock form with a 4-12 Simmons prosport. The circle outline was drawn around a dime.
CIMG1922.jpg

Mine is the wood stocked version. I wish I could find a metal trigger guard to fit it...
 
The only 2 things I would like to change would be the trigger guard and the magazine. They are both plastic. However, I must say, the mag loads very easy.
 
i have a .243 atr and am amazed. you get alot of gun for the $$$, free float barrell and adjustable trigger
heres my 1st 2 shots after a bore sight at 105 yds....

2011-12-11_12-32-59_778.jpg
 
Howa is a good rifle...but Howa does not make Marlin or Mossberg rifles. Have a couple of Marlin XL/XS rifles myself and they shoot quite well.

As to Mossberg rifles, gent I shoot with on a regular basis showed up one day at range with a Mossberg, don't remember if it was an ATR or a 4x4. Rifle belonged to his son and he was going to sight-in the scope and try a variety of his reloads in it. He will bring it to range twice and after a fair number of rounds downrange with it, tell me, "for a cheap rifle, it shoots pretty darn good, might have to get one of these for myself." Mind you, this is a guy who doesn't mind spending bucks for a good rifle...for example, his .308 rifle that he had built by the Remington custom shop.
 
Originally Posted By: DGWHowa is a good rifle...but Howa does not make Marlin or Mossberg rifles.

Yes they do. Or at the very least did for Mossberg. The older Mossberg 1500s are all Howas. Howa also made rifles for Smith & Wesson, again as 1500 models. I have one in .222.

I cannot confirm the current lineup as I haven't seen then in person but the Marlin action doesn't LOOK like a Howa from the pics I have seen online. The Mossberg 4x4 LOOKS darn close to a Howa. Again, I haven't seen them up close and personal so I won't call it as a definite.
 
It has been a long time since Howa produced the 1500 for Mossberg. The current line of Mossberg rifles started out as the Raptor. I think another company then bought out Raptor (Charter Arms), and Mossberg eventually bought the tooling and make their own now. They have expanded the line considerably in recent years.

They have very accurate barrels and Accutrigger like clone triggers. Earlier model triggers sucked with no adjustment, but were easily polished into a decent trigger. The Maverick line still had the old trigger design. Academy had the Maverick for sale at $179 back in the fall. I bought one for my daughter's boyfriend who was having a hard time after losing his mom to cancer.
 
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The barrel, action houseing, bolt release, trigger, and safety are all exactly like my Howa the bolt is very similar in design but is not the same one piece the Howa uses. The Rifle Basix tigger for the Vanguard, 1500, S&W, will also fit on my 100 ATR.
 
From the pics I have seen, the triggers are different. The ATR trigger has a locating pin on the front of the trigger and the 1500 trigger has an inverted vee instead. There were pics on the eabco.com site a few weeks ago that showed the differences, but I just looked and they are gone. My understanding is that Rifle Basix is discontinuing the ATR trigger for some reason.
 
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